BRC Global Standards Terms Mass Balance, Traceability & Vertical Audit

Unsure about traceability, vertical audits, and mass balance in BRC? Join me today as we unravel the mystery behind these key terms and their role within the BRC Global Standards. Get ready for clear explanations and practical insights!

Within the BRC Global Standards (BRCGS), traceability is a fundamental requirement for ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain. This involves the ability to track a product’s journey, from its raw materials and packaging to its final destination. This is vital for product recalls, compliance checks, and maintaining quality standards.

Core traceability tests assess both backward and forward traceability. Backward traceability maps a finished product back to its constituent parts, while forward traceability tracks a specific raw material or packaging item through its usage within production. Both tests require completion within four hours during audits, demonstrating efficient record-keeping and information accessibility.

When documentation beyond basic traceability data is required, a vertical audit comes into play. This delves deeper, examining supporting processes and records that underpin the core traceability test. For instance, an auditor might request supplier approval documentation to verify the origin and quality of raw materials. Vertical audits provide a more comprehensive assessment of your traceability system’s robustness.

Mass balance adds another layer of scrutiny, focusing on quantitative reconciliation. It involves tracking the physical flow of materials and ensuring that the quantity of raw materials entering production aligns with the finished products and waste generated.

This helps identify potential issues like misallocation, fraud, or inadequate process control. Auditors often select products with specific claims (e.g., organic) for mass balance exercises, as these necessitate robust substantiation.

In conclusion, traceability forms the foundation, vertical audits provide supporting evidence, and mass balance ensures quantitative accuracy.

Mastering these concepts is crucial for navigating BRCGS audits and demonstrating a robust, transparent, and trustworthy supply chain.

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